Switch apparatus



J. A. C. KRIPS SWITCH APPARATUS Dec. 13, 1932,

Filed March 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 13, 1932. KRlPs 1,890,514

SWI TCH APPARATUS 7 Filed March 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 13, 1932 I A UNITED ST TES Lauren. 0. xnres or HADnonrrELn, new EnsnY, ASSIGNOR T I-T-E omourr PATIENT oFric ,BREAKER COMPANY, or PHILADELPHIA, rnnnsrrvanm, A CORPORATION on NEW 1 JERSEY swxron Arrana'rus Application fiieamarchrz, 1930. Serial Nae-26330.,

My invention relates to improvements in switching-mechanism comprising separable component units, for controlling electrlc power, lighting and other circuits.

An'object of my invention is to provide n switching mechanism of the character referred to-improved meanswhereby one unit/1S entirely supported or hu'ngffrom an associ-ated or complementary unit during and afterseparation of the units which are maintained in alignment with respect to each other for-subsequent movement back into operative register with each other; e

i In accordance with my invention, aswitch unit or structure is entirely supported by pant-ograph structure upon an associated unit from and. back to which it is movable in a straight line to separate and reengage its contacts from and with fixed contacts permanently connected to buses or supply lines.

Further in accordance with my invention, means are providedfor enabling the operator to e'fiect separation of the movable from the stationary units without unusual eflort, al-

' thoughrelatively great force be requiredas in the case where the coacting switch contacts engage or wipe upon each other with con siderable friction: y

My invention resides inapparatusv of the character hereinafter described and claimed. .For the purpose of illustrating my invention,.one embodiment thereo fis shown in the drawings, in which line2-2 in Fig.1; i

Fig. 31s afragmentarysectional .VIGW on line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

, 4 isa sectional view on jline 44 in i 1 a -Fig. 5 is an enlargeddetail sectional view taken from Fig. 3; and i Fig. 6 is a sectional view on The switching'mechanism comprises the oomplementaryseparahle structures or units designated generally. by reference numerals 10 and 11. y L

The fixed unit 11is securedto a switchthree poles'are indicated respectively by the brokenlines 22, 23 and 24, operated and controlled bylevers and-26. Contacts 27 and 28 in the unit 10 are complementary respectively to the contacts 12 and 19a which are received by the associated con-' tacts uponmovement of switch structure 10 to the right into operative relation with respect to the fixed terminal'or bus structure'll, at which time the usual fixed and movable switch contacts ofbreaker 22 are connected respectively through contacts 27 and 28 to contacts 12 and 19a. In like manner, upper and lower contacts 29 receive the respective contacts 13 and 19b toconnect breaker 23 therewith, while contacts 30 receive the respective contacts 14 and 190130 connect breake 24 thereto. v Each of the contacts 27, 28, 29, 30 is provided with flexible connections thereto, not i shown. These contacts are supported by' Fig. 1 is a front elevational; viewof switch ing mechanism embodying my invention Fig.2 is a plan view,partlyin section, on

I therewith. This gripping action is effective tohold switch structure 10 against free move ment out of operative relation with respect to the fixed structure 11. The gripping action is so great that in switch gear of large capacilty it is diflicult to separate unit 10 from unit In accordance with my invention, means areprovided to enable an operator readily to separate the two structures, and to this end unit 10 is connected to the fixed unit 11 by pantograph structures designated generally by reference numerals 2 and 33, which operate to support the switch structure 10 for movement into and out ofoperative relation with respect to the fixed structure, and entirely'to support it upon the fixed structure during such movement.

The pantograph structure 32 comprises the uprightly' disposed links 34: and 35.- pivotal-1y connected"intermediate their ends-by the pin 36 and spaced by suitable plates 37 securedtow shown 'inqFig. '2. a a

The pantograph; structure 33. identical -With;pantograph structure 32 just'described; V

is connected ;to 1 the complementary unitsl and 11 inthessame way. i

- gflhepantographs 32 and 33 operates to con-'5 nect switch structure 10 for straight-line f movement into and, out jof'ojperative or connested relation withgrespectito the 'fixed'struc" tare; 11;, and ventirely tofsupportthe unit "10 fromfthe fixed unit llduri'ng such movement,

asishown inv-Eigs. land 2. Thepin 36 as shown in Fig. '1, ?is ,preterablynot. at the cen-.

' ter offllinks 134and-35 but is nearerthe ends ofithe links connect'ed to-plateor panel 43 so. that-when the movable unit is in circuit-com I trollingpostiongwiththe rear flangesvofpanel nisni, is providei comprising'. aflat triangular 43'against the angle members .40 oftthe fixed unit; the;;links 34 and 35 overlie. one another withjlittle Orijnoanglebetween'themurl V z iTo withdraw, switch unit 10 from unit-11 against the powerful opposing gripping ;ac'-; at tl1e:con-tacts-,-' forceemultiplying. mean s:

' of any suitable type are provided; .-:In the.

exampflegillustratedz screweand-nut mechaplate 46;, -whose plane; is Parallel. to r the path vof; movementriof-sunit 10, secured at itsibase f portionto an. angle'member. 47 carried bys'tructure 10, and provided at. its apexrwitha nutt48;,; screw 49fengages-nut 48; and is supported forirotation in, suitable lugs ion bearing lblocfks '50., and 51 on. structure 11.

:' A suitable thrustbearing 52', disposed "on the reduced end portion 530i? screw-49, and dis posed between the shoulder. 54 and a bushing 55, operatesto hold the screw against appreciable axial movement, while permitting free rotatij'onthereot;5A gear 56 fixed onscr'ew 49 meshes. Zwi-thl a- :smaller gear 57 l fixed 0n the shaft 581:havingr a f reduced end portion 5'9' journalled in a bearing'plate 60 and on which isyfixedracollar til; YShatt 58 is parallel to screw 49,; as'sho'wnfidFigsQQ and 35 and ex'- operative tends loosely through suitable bearing blocks or lugs 62 and 63 associated respectively with the structures 11 and 10.

By a wrench applied to its square end 64 shaft 58 i rotated to cause rotation of screw 49 with consequent movement; of; unit; 10 with respect tolunit llli- I Wldlrom the foregoing s waed-nut me ha ism.

it be seen that the pr v e means wh reby t e switc stru ture I Jl nay b 're ily separated from fixed structure;'llto f disengage their contacts, as shown in Figs. 1 an'dQ, and moved without ditliculty back into position with respect to the fixed structure:

Dur ng s c m e nt f s t h s u u yp at 46 ope s ab c t -mlmmi ze lateral ortorsional deflection ot the, pan/to:

graphs, and: as a guide to maintain proper alignment of units 10 and Il, so-thatthe con tacts of one are always 1n position for proper registration with; the

What I cla m is:

c ntacts o the Q en v;

1, The combination, witha unit prisingcontacts ofa movable tunitcompris-e ing switch mechanism and contacts connected therewith; link structure disposed in-favertical plane capable ofwholly-supportingisaid movable unit upon saidifixedunitttorqhorr zontal straight-line movement ofsaid mov;-: able unit to effect separation otthe contacts thereof from those-of said, fixed unit,v and meanscoacting with said units for preventingtorsional defiectionmf said dink; structure about a vertical axisduringsaidmovementof saidmoVabIe-unit; 2., The combination come prising contacts,- of amovableunit comprise mg switch mechanism andcontacts connected therewith link structure dis osed' 1n a were ti'cal plane capableof;whollyisupporting said movable :unit; upon said i'fi-Xed unit forjahoria zonta'l straight-line movement o't said mov able unitto etfect separation of the contacts thereof from those-of said fixed unihand ment of -;said 'movable' unit saidfixed unit connectingsaid uni r torceeiuultiplying means for efiecting movefwith respect "to tfor all positions of'sai-d movableunits 1 3. The combination with afixed unit comprising 1 contacts 0t Ia movable unit comp rising switchmechanism and cont cts-convened therewith, link structure dispesed a vertical plane capable of wholly supporting said movable unit upon said fixed" unit for'horie zontal straight-line movement of saidmo'v able' unit to effectseparation otthe contacts thereof from those otsaid fi zied' unit, and force-multiplying means for eliecting move: ment o'f said movable unit with respect to said fixed unit; said means comprising *coacting members attached respectively t'o' said fixed and movable unitsan'd so disp'o'sedas to pre-f vent torsional deflection of ture about avertical" axis.

said link struc 4. the-combination with a fixed-unit comprising contacts, of a movable unit COB1PI1S7 in a panel, contacts-extending from one si e o'fsaid panel for engagement with said I contacts cf said fixed unit, switch mechanism carried by said panel having contact 'struc tiireconnected to sa'id' second contacts, said switch *mechanism operable-from the other side of said panel, and link" structure supporting said movable unit upon said iixed unit,*'maintaining said second contacts in substantiatllyi the same horizontal-plane for all circuit breaker and extending from the rear (if said panel 'forengagement with said first contacts, and' antograph "structure supportingisaid mova 1e unit comprising links pivotedto each other, "having their upper ends pivotediat fixed points on said units, and

tl'ieir lower ends slidably'pivoted on said The combination with afixed unit comprising contacts, of amovable unit comprising aopanel, a circuit-.hreakerlmounted on the frontiifsaidpaneh'contacts connected to said circuit-breaker and extending from the rear of said panel for engagement with said first contacts, and pantograph structuresupporting said movable unit from said fixed unit comprising links pivoted to, each other at points unequally spaced from their ends to permit them to assume overlying position for the limit of travel of said movable unit efiecte in engagement of said contacts. c

The combination with a fixedunit comrising contacts, of a movable unit comprisng switch mechanism and contacts connected thereto, link structure supporting said movable unit upon said fixed unit for horizontal Y strai ht-line movementof said movable unit to e ect separation of said contacts of said umts, and means for eifectlng movement. of

said movable unit and for holding said unit against accidental displacement in intermediate position to which it is moved.

u '8. The combination with a fixed unit comi ture, and means for preventing arc communiprising contacts, of a movable unit comprising switch mechanism and contacts connected thereto, link structure supporting said fixed unit for horizontal movement of said movable unit to effect separation of said contacts of said units, and means for preventing torsional movement of said movable unit about a vertical axis comprising mechanism including members attached to the fixed and movable units. i p l 9. The combination with a fixed unit comprising contacts, of a movable unit comprising switch mechanism and contacts connected thereto, link structure supporting said movable unitupon said fixed unit for horizontal n a circuit breaker on the front thereof, contacts extending from the rear of said panel for engagement with said first contacts wlthin said compartment, pantograph structure for supporting said movable unit for sub stantially horizontal movement comprising links having their upper ends pivoted at fixed points of said panel and fixed unit and their lower ends slidably engaging said panel and said fixed unit, and means for effecting move mam of said movable unit comprising structuresupported by said fixed unit and operated from the front of said panel.

-11. In a switch structure containing a co-mpartment, a circuit breaker on the front of movable panel supported from said structure, means furnished whereby substantially horizontal straight line parallel motion perpendicular to said panel is effected to actuate dis-connecting switch mechanism behind said movable panel and sealed from are communication with said circuit breaker, said means comprising vertical pantograph linkage supporting said panel from said structure and guiding mechanism whereby angular and lateral motion is prevented, and means for holding panel in a plurality of positions against accidental displacement.

12. An electrical switch structure containing fixed contacts, a movable panel borne by link mechanism from said structure and supporting onv the back complementary contacts engageable with said'fixed contacts, means for controlling said contacts by permitting restrictedmotion of panel substantially solely in line normal to its surface, a circuit breaker on the front of said panel and connected with said complementary contacts, said circuit breaker andsaid engageable contacts controllable from front of said struccation between circuit breaker and said contacts.

113. In an electrical switch structure, a fixed panel with contacts and a movablepanel parallel to and facing said fixed panel and supported from said structure by links, contacts on movable'panel 'engageablewith said contactson said fixed panel,'means for effect ingilimited movement of said movable panel toward and away from said fixed panel and forholdingit at a plurality ofpositions against accidental displacement, and ;means for preventing vertical or horizontal-angular motion bet-Ween panels, and for restricting the direction of motionfito, that substantially normal to the jsurface ofpaneL 14. The combination with fixed unit- Come prising contacts, of a movable; unit comprisi ing switch mechanism and contacts connected thereto, link structure supporting saidmov: able unit upon said lined unit for horizontal straight-line movement of saidQmOVQble-unit in effecting separation of said contacts of said units, and means for holding said movable unit against accidental displacement-in any 15. The combination with aiixed unit comprising contacts,of a movable unit comprisingswitch mechanism andj contacts connected I thereto, link structure supporting saidmovable nnit upon said fixed unit for horizontal straight-line movement 10f said movable unit in eflecting separation of saidjcontacts q f said units, and means for e'lfliecting movement of saidv movable' unit comprising screwpositionto which it may be moved.

I threaded structure supported by saidfined 7 unit and operable from the front of said mov able unit, sa d means adapted t hold said movable unit against accldental d splacement inany position to Whichit may be moved,

r 16-; The combination with a finedunit ])I1S1I1g contacts, of a movable unltcompr s ing switch mechanism and contactsconnected thereto link structure su aortinr sa d rnovr able unit 'upon said fixed unit for horizontal v stralght-linehmovement of sa1dmovab1e unit in effecting separation ofsaid'contactsjofsaid units, andmeans for efiecting movement of said movable unit comprising a plate meniber Whose plane is paralleltothepathot movement'or said movable :unit,".saidfplate t 'memher secured at one end to Q'said movable un t and having screw-threadedmeans, se-

fcured'to its op'posite' end and supported by.

saidffiXedun-it.- t t p 1 17 The combination with a fixed com prising contacts; of a movable unit compris in g a panel'; a'c ircuit-breaker mountedl on the fronto'f saidpanel, contacts connected to said circuit-breaker and extending from. the rear 7 of said panelfor engagement with saidfirst contacts, pantograph structure supporting said movable unit from saidffixedi n it coln prising links pivoted to each other at points unequally spaced from their ends tolpermit theinto assume overlying position for the limit of travel of said movable unit effecting engagement of'said contacts, and means including tscrew-threaded structure operable from the frontof said movable unit foreffecting .movementof said unit and for hold-T, ing the'unit against accidental displacement in any position .to which itmaybemovedr 18.; The, combination Witha .fixed unitf'com I prising contacts or a movable unitieompris mg switch mechanism and contacts connected said n s; mean f iov b e un mp is n -i a theretorlink structure supporting aidmo ab e: unit ponvsaid fixed i mitefori {horizon al .str gh d emovem t'ofeaid moyab e un t in.1etfect-. ngiseparationsof-said i entactsiof Y e fecting .inwmentef aid: movab Uni comprisi gaapla ememr ber hos ;p neds1.;p ra1 to: the pa h- Q me e e of is d; 1 m v le unit, sai Plate mem er 5 s cured at qnel nd V t n av ng crewrthread idi 11.1 .411. seur di -Q- i ppos te nd, and? suppor ed :by ai d.un sxandimean ,cqmpri i amem= bier, e$ e id gatmhe; c lront; of sa d met ble aid-mo able n t t o actuatin said screw-thr aded I m a I 1 Theomb ne nn th a fix d; 11 1 1 011 prising contacts, of a movable unit compris ns-switch mecha ism andeeeteetsc nn ct d berate ink; ructure s pport n sa denov: able u epenr eidrfixe tun e erzheril e tel straiiightline movement of sa d gniovab l e; nit ec in ret e Qf fl -Se m a zfergefie t ne.mo m nt offsaid fle t ian ular p'latefivhose plane is ipa al memees r Seid 9n t i ;:p. 5 e dfi t' ts b si'pqj 'io" unitfand provided atjit apex W. h crew-1 threaded mans'supp'o'rte'd by said fixed am and means extending togthep front of said movableunit m'ta 'tingjsai'cl f] ed meansi if was 9t an :Pathef sa vdi mevab e 

